“From the time my children were in kindergarten, I have followed the same basic weekly schedule for math. We typically complete three textbook lessons per week and two living math lessons per week.” ~ Cindy West Cindy West’s Loving Living Math has given my family permission. Permission to learn and enjoy the real life stuff of math. See, I admit I am not a math type mom. But I do thrive on the … [Read more...] about Loving Living Math
Wonders of Old: Medieval Timeline App
I'll admit that I'm very new to the world of apps. My son saved up his own money this past winter to purchase an iPod Touch. I had no idea how incredibly cool that little palm-sized piece of technology could be. When Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest and App-School asked if I'd like to review her newest educational app, I was very excited! The Wonders of Old: Medieval Timeline App is exactly … [Read more...] about Wonders of Old: Medieval Timeline App
Life Of Fred Books
This year my fourth grader and I are having some fun living math lessons a few days a week using the Life Of Fred Fractions book. The Life Of Fred books are quite catchy and well written for children, and they cover so much more then math! Fred happens to be a 5.5 year old little boy who’s all ready in university. Throughout the books you learn various math concepts by reading Fred’s … [Read more...] about Life Of Fred Books
Poetry for Young People
"I dwell in Possibility/A fairer house than Prose,/More numerous of windows,/Superior of doors." Emily Dickinson, "I dwell in Possibility" Poetry is a flexible area of study. It can be studied on its own, and for its own merit. On the other hand, born of cultural, historical, and personal experience, poetry can enhance the study of any … [Read more...] about Poetry for Young People
The Ordinary Parent’s Guide To Teaching Reading
This school year I am teaching my 5 year old, Evan, to read. In my short two years as a homeschooler, I had somehow collected about 8 books to teach reading, as well as a huge boxed reading curriculum. We went through the most widely recommended curriculum with Emma, now 7, and she hated them all. Since we had such a difficult time with Emma, I wanted to try to avoid that with Evan. I went … [Read more...] about The Ordinary Parent’s Guide To Teaching Reading
Art of the Argument
By now, y'all know I love logic. Whether the more mathematical side of logic puzzlers or the more formal side of logical thinking, I'm on board (and so are my kids!) And I'm on a mission to get your family excited about this important subject. This time around, I'm reviewing Art of the Argument: An Introduction to the Informal Fallacies by Aaron Lawson and Joelle Hodge. Written for middle … [Read more...] about Art of the Argument
Real Science 4 Kids
I ran across the Real Science 4 Kids while attending our local curriculum fair this year. Right from the start I was attracted to the colorful, yet informative, hands-on learning style. I didn't pick up a copy at the time mainly because I really wanted to see what was out there and approach the pros and cons. In the vast array of options, I really thought I wanted to do Apologia for our first … [Read more...] about Real Science 4 Kids
Educational Apps
Technology continues to advance, and with it, comes many opportunities to learn. Today, cell phones have become much more than just a way to call someone. But, did you know that beyond Facebook and Angry Birds (a game), there are some really great learning gems available for smart phones? 5 Great Apps For Education Super WHY! Originally just a TV show, Super Why! has transitioned … [Read more...] about Educational Apps
English for a Thoughtful Child
Every online homeschool forum that I belong to eventually gets around to the question of teaching grammar. Parents are concerned about what to teach, how to teach it, and, the biggie, at what age to begin formal grammar studies. For our family, the answer to these concerns differs with each child, but one resource that has become a staple for this subject in our homeschool is English for a … [Read more...] about English for a Thoughtful Child
The Nature Game
Kendra from the blog, Aussie Pumpkin Patch, has developed a fun game that nature lovers everywhere will get excited about! She originally asked me to review this for Shining Dawn Books since our main line is the NaturExplorers series, but I thought it deserved the attention of The Curriculum Choice instead. The Nature Game comes to you as two PDF flies. On one file, you get directions for … [Read more...] about The Nature Game
Nature in Your Pocket
Waterford Press has a tagline that says, “Putting the World in Your Pocket.” With Waterford Press it is amazing just how much of the world you can fit into your pocket. You can store information about animal tracks, the cosmos, plants, wildlife and more right in your back pocket. These naturalist pocket guides are durable, easy to read, colorful, and fun for children or anyone who appreciates … [Read more...] about Nature in Your Pocket
Sequential Spelling
Our family has used several things through the years to help our kids in the area of spelling. Some have worked well. Others have not. My oldest son (14) was really struggling this past year with his spelling and programs that we had previously tried just didn't seem to be doing the trick with him. He was a late reader. He has always struggled a bit with the concept of phonics. He tends to be very … [Read more...] about Sequential Spelling